Eco-friendly activator-free water transfer printing film and method of printing the same

ABSTRACT

An eco-friendly activator-free water transfer printing film and its transfer printing method are disclosed. The method includes the steps of: laying a superabsorbent film on a water surface; laying a hydrophilic material on a surface of the superabsorbent film to form a hydrophilic layer, and the hydrophilic material includes an information object, or coated with an information object; absorbing water to soften an end surface of the superabsorbent film contacting with the water surface, and crosslinking the other end surface of the superabsorbent film to the hydrophilic layer; pushing a transfer object towards the hydrophilic layer in water, so that the hydrophilic layer and the superabsorbent film are transferred and printed onto the transfer object. Therefore, the water transfer printing process can be achieved without using any activator to avoid environmental pollutions and prevent jeopardizing human beings or deforming transfer printing patterns.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an eco-friendly activator-free water transfer printing film and its transfer printing method, in particular to a water transfer printing process that can be carried out without using any activator to avoid environmental pollutions and prevent jeopardizing human health or deforming the transfer printing pattern.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In water transfer printing, texts and/or patterns are printed on a water-soluble resin film, and the water-soluble resin film is laid on a water surface, and then an activator is provided for hydrolyzing the water-soluble resin film into an isolated state, and a transfer object is pressed onto the water-soluble resin film in water in order to transfer the texts and/or patterns on a surface of the transfer object, and then the transfer object is cleaned by water and dried in order to attach the texts and/or patterns onto the surface of the transfer object securely.

However, the activator used for the water transfer printing is an organic solvent which discharges volatile organic compounds (VOC) which may volatile during the manufacture, transportation and use of water transfer printing films and may damage the environmental ecology and jeopardize the health of related personnel. Since conditions such as the spray speed, uniformity, concentration, and recipe of the activator have substantial impacts on the solubility of the printed texts and/or patterns on the water-soluble resin film, and the printing process may lead to deformations due to the factors such as the uniform solution, and reaction force produced during the spray coating, and all these will affect the precision, aesthetic look, and production yield of the water transfer printing.

In view of the aforementioned drawbacks of the conventional water transfer printing, the inventor of the present invention based on years of experience in the related industry to conduct extensive research and experiment, and finally provided the present invention to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an eco-friendly activator-free water transfer printing film comprising: a superabsorbent film with high water absorbability; a hydrophilic layer laid on the superabsorbent film, wherein after water is absorbed to soften an end surface of the superabsorbent film, the other end surface of the superabsorbent film is crosslinked to the hydrophilic layer; and an information object laid on the hydrophilic layer.

In the eco-friendly activator-free water transfer printing film, the superabsorbent film is primarily made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).

In the eco-friendly activator-free water transfer printing film, the superabsorbent film further comprises a PVA emulsion resin and a surfactant.

In the eco-friendly activator-free water transfer printing film, the hydrophilic layer mainly includes polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP).

In the eco-friendly activator-free water transfer printing film, the information object is an ink spread into the hydrophilic layer.

In the eco-friendly activator-free water transfer printing film, the information object is a hydrophilic water masterbatch.

In the eco-friendly activator-free water transfer printing film, the information object is layer shaped and coated onto an end of the hydrophilic layer relative to the superabsorbent film.

In the eco-friendly activator-free water transfer printing film, the information object is a laser coating with a metal material.

The present invention further provides a water transfer printing method of an eco-friendly activator-free water transfer printing film, and the method is applied to an eco-friendly activator-free water transfer printing film, and the method comprises the steps of: laying the superabsorbent film on a water surface; laying a hydrophilic material including the information object on an upper surface of the superabsorbent film to form the hydrophilic layer; letting the hydrophilic layer stand still, so that the superabsorbent film absorbs water to soften an end surface of the superabsorbent film in contact with the water surface, and crosslinking the other end surface of the superabsorbent film to the hydrophilic layer; pressing a transfer object towards the hydrophilic layer in water, so that the hydrophilic layer and the superabsorbent film are transferred and printed onto the transfer object.

The present invention further provides a transfer printing method of an eco-friendly activator-free water transfer printing film, and the method is applied to the aforementioned eco-friendly activator-free water transfer printing film, and the method comprises the steps of: laying the superabsorbent film on a water surface; laying a hydrophilic material on an upper surface of the superabsorbent film to form the hydrophilic layer, and laying an information object at an end of the hydrophilic layer relative to the hydrophilic layer, so that the information object in a layer shape is coated onto the top of the hydrophilic material; letting the hydrophilic material stand still, so that an end surface of the superabsorbent film in contact with the water surface absorbs water to become softened and crosslinking the other end surface of the superabsorbent film to the hydrophilic layer; pressing a transfer object towards the hydrophilic layer in water, so that the hydrophilic layer and the superabsorbent film are transferred and printed onto the transfer object.

In summation, the present invention has the following advantages and effects:

1. The superabsorbent film of the present invention absorbs water to become softened, and crosslinks with the hydrophilic layer, so that no activator is required to soften the superabsorbent film and the hydrophilic layer for the crosslink, and the information object can be transferred onto the transfer object by water transfer printing, so as to save the material cost of the activator and prevent polluting the environment, jeopardizing the human health and deforming the transfer printing pattern due to the activator. This invention has the environmental protection effect and improves the efficiency and production yield of the water transfer printing.

2. The whole superabsorbent film of the present invention is laid on the water surface, so that the whole superabsorbent film and the hydrophilic layer can be crosslinked at the same time, and the patterns, texts or their combination formed by the information object will not be deformed easily. This invention can improve the precision and aesthetic look of the water transfer printing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a water transfer printing film of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a water transfer printing method of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a water transfer printing film in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a water transfer printing method in accordance with the other embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

To make it easier for our examiner to understand the objective of the invention, its structure, innovative features, and performance, we use a preferred embodiment together with the attached drawings for the detailed description of the invention.

With reference to FIG. 1 for an eco-friendly activator-free water transfer printing film in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the eco-friendly activator-free water transfer printing film comprises:

a superabsorbent film 1, with high water absorbability, primarily made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in an exemplary embodiment, and including a PVA emulsion resin and a surfactant for enhancing the crosslinking of the superabsorbent film 1, and the superabsorbent film 1 further comprising:

a hydrophilic layer 2, formed by a hydrophilic material into a layer-shape, whereon after an end surface of the superabsorbent film 1 absorbs water to soften the hydrophilic layer 2, the other end surface of the superabsorbent film 1 is crosslinked to the hydrophilic layer 2; and the hydrophilic layer 2 is comprised of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP); and

an information object 3, laid on the hydrophilic layer 2, wherein the information object 3 is an ink spread into the hydrophilic layer 2, and the information object 3 is a hydrophilic water masterbatch in an exemplary embodiment, so that after the information object 3 and the hydrophilic material are mixed, the mixture can be laid on a surface of the superabsorbent film 1 directly to form a message with patterns, texts, or their combination, and the hydrophilic material is laid on the superabsorbent film 1 mechanically or manually by spray-coating or direct coating. These are examples provided for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, but not intended for limiting the invention.

With reference to FIG. 2 for the flow chart of a water transfer printing method in accordance with this embodiment of the invention, the method comprises the following steps:

S001: Lay the superabsorbent film 1 on a water surface.

S002: Lay a hydrophilic material including the information object 3 on an upper surface of the superabsorbent film 1 to form the hydrophilic layer 2.

It is noteworthy that the sequence of the steps S001 and S002 are not fixed, but they can be swapped. In an embodiment, the superabsorbent film 1 may be formed on the hydrophilic layer 2 first, and then the superabsorbent film 1 is laid on the water surface.

S003: Let the superabsorbent film stand still for a time period according to the required time for producing a crosslink between the superabsorbent film 1 and the hydrophilic layer 2, and the time period is approximately equal to 10 to 60 seconds. Therefore, an end surface of the superabsorbent film 1 in contact with the water surface absorbs water to become softened, and the other end surface of the superabsorbent film 1 is crosslinked with the hydrophilic layer 2, and the hydrophilic material is softened synchronously to provide adhesiveness.

S004: Press a transfer object towards the hydrophilic layer 2 in water (this step is similar to a step of the conventional water transfer printing method), so that the hydrophilic layer 2 and the superabsorbent film 1 can be transferred and printed onto the transfer object according to the contour of the transfer object.

The subsequent steps are the same as those of the conventional water transfer printing, wherein the transfer object is washed by water to dissolve and wash away the softened superabsorbent film 1 and then a baking process is performed, so that the information object 3 can be transferred and attached onto the transfer object securely.

According to the type, property and requirement of the information object 3, it is not mandatory to spread the information object on the hydrophilic layer 2. In another embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, the information object 3 in a layer shaped is coated onto an end of the hydrophilic layer 2 relative to the superabsorbent film 1, wherein the information object 3 may be a laser coating with a metal material transferable in the water transfer printing process. This is a prior art, and thus will not be described in details.

In FIG. 4, the water transfer printing method in accordance with this embodiment of the present invention comprises the following steps:

S005: Lay the superabsorbent film 1 on a water surface.

S006: Lay a hydrophilic material on an upper surface of the superabsorbent film 1 to form the hydrophilic layer 2, and lay an information object 3 onto an end of the hydrophilic layer 2 relative to the hydrophilic layer 2, so that the information object 3 is layer shaped and coated onto the top of the hydrophilic material.

It is noteworthy that the hydrophilic layer 2 of this embodiment may just have the hydrophilic material or may include the hydrophilic layer 2 formed by the hydrophilic material of the information object 3 to improve the layer, diversity, and aesthetic look of the water transfer printing texts and/or patterns.

As described above, the sequence of the steps S005 and S006 are not fixed, but they can be swapped. In an embodiment, the superabsorbent film 1 may be formed on the hydrophilic layer 2 and the layer-shaped information object 3 first, and then the superabsorbent film 1 is laid on the water surface.

S007: Let the superabsorbent film 1 stand still for a time period, so that an end surface of the superabsorbent film 1 in contact with the water surface absorbs water to become softened, and the other end surface of the superabsorbent film 1 is crosslinked to the hydrophilic layer 2, wherein the time period is set according to the required time for producing a crosslink between the superabsorbent film 1 and the hydrophilic layer 2, and the time period is approximately equal to 10 to 60 seconds. Therefore, an end surface of the superabsorbent film 1 in contact with the water surface absorbs water to become softened, and the other end surface of the superabsorbent film 1 is crosslinked with the hydrophilic layer 2, and the hydrophilic material is softened synchronously to provide adhesiveness of the layer shaped information object 3.

S008: Press a transfer object towards the hydrophilic layer 2 in water (this step is similar to a step of the conventional water transfer printing method), so that the hydrophilic layer 2 and the superabsorbent film 1 can be transferred and printed onto the transfer object according to the contour of the transfer object.

The subsequent steps are the same as those of the conventional water transfer printing, wherein the transfer object is washed by water to dissolve and wash away the softened superabsorbent film 1 and then a baking process is performed, so that the information object 3 can be transferred and attached onto the transfer object securely.

Therefore, the superabsorbent film 1 of the present invention absorbs water to become softened and crosslinks with the hydrophilic layer 2, so that the information object 3 can be transferred and printed onto the transfer object without requiring any activator, so as to improve the transfer efficiency of the water transfer printing and omit the use of the activator to achieve the effects of preventing environmental pollutions, protecting the health of personnel. In addition, the whole superabsorbent film 1 of the present invention is laid on the water surface, so that the whole superabsorbent film 1 and the hydrophilic layer 2 can be crosslinked at the same time, and the patterns, texts or their combination formed by the information object will not be deformed easily. This invention can improve the precision and aesthetic look of the water transfer printing. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An eco-friendly activator-free water transfer printing film, comprising: a superabsorbent film, with high water absorbability, made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and including a PVA emulsion resin and a surfactant; a hydrophilic layer, laid on the superabsorbent film, for crosslinking an end surface of the superabsorbent film to the hydrophilic layer after the other end surface of the superabsorbent film absorbs water to become softened, and the hydrophilic layer mainly including polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP); and an information object, laid on the hydrophilic layer, and the information object being a hydrophilic object.
 2. The eco-friendly activator-free water transfer printing film according to claim 1, wherein the information object is an ink spread into the hydrophilic layer.
 3. The eco-friendly activator-free water transfer printing film according to claim 2, wherein the information object is a hydrophilic water masterbatch.
 4. The eco-friendly activator-free water transfer printing film according to claim 1, wherein the information object is layer-shaped and coated onto an end of the hydrophilic layer relative to the superabsorbent film.
 5. The eco-friendly activator-free water transfer printing film according to claim 4, wherein the information object is a laser coating with a metal material.
 6. A transfer printing method of an eco-friendly activator-free water transfer printing film applied to the eco-friendly activator-free water transfer printing film as claimed in claim 1, comprising the steps of: laying the superabsorbent film on a water surface; laying a hydrophilic material including the information object on an upper surface of the superabsorbent film to form the hydrophilic layer; letting the hydrophilic layer stand still to absorb water to soften an end surface of the superabsorbent film that is in contact with the water surface, and crosslinking the other end surface of the superabsorbent film to the hydrophilic layer; pushing a transfer object towards the hydrophilic layer in water, so that the hydrophilic layer and the superabsorbent film are transferred to the transfer object.
 7. A transfer printing method of an eco-friendly activator-free water transfer printing film applied to the eco-friendly activator-free water transfer printing film as claimed in claim 1, comprising the steps of: laying the superabsorbent film on a water surface; laying a hydrophilic material on an upper surface of the superabsorbent film to form the hydrophilic layer, and spreading the information object to an end of the hydrophilic layer relative to the hydrophilic layer, so that the information object in a layer shape is coated onto the top of the hydrophilic material; letting the hydrophilic material stand still, so that the superabsorbent film absorbs water to soften the end surface which is in contact with the water surface, and crosslinking the other end surface to the hydrophilic layer; and pushing a transfer object towards the hydrophilic layer in water, so that the hydrophilic layer and the superabsorbent film are transferred to the transfer object. 